Abstract: Provided is an endoscope with a narrower diameter at a distal end portion of an insertion part to be inserted into a body of a subject.

Abstract: Provided are an endoscope image pickup device and an endoscope capable of realizing a firm fixation and a stable connection strength. There is provided an endoscope image pickup device that acquires an image of an observation target, the endoscope image pickup device including: a lens barrel provided with an internal image pickup lens; an image pickup element that receives light which has passed through the image pickup lens to perform photoelectric conversion; a holder that holds the lens barrel; a signal cable electrically connected to the image pickup element; and a connecting member that connects the holder and the signal cable to each other. The holder and the connecting member are engaged with each other at an engaging portion, and the engaging portion is provided with an adhesive layer containing a filler.

Abstract: An image pickup device that is provided at a distal end portion of an insertion unit of an endoscope having a longitudinal axis, includes: a first lens barrel that houses a first optical system; a second lens barrel that is disposed on a proximal end side of the first lens barrel, houses a second optical system on which light having passed through the first optical system is to be incident, and includes a second lens barrel-distal end portion that is a distal end portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of a first lens barrel-proximal end portion which is a proximal end portion of the first lens barrel; a sliding part that is provided around an outer peripheral surface of the second lens barrel-distal end portion and that is in contact with the first lens barrel-proximal end portion; and a pressing member that is externally fitted over the sliding part from the first lens barrel-proximal end portion.

Abstract: According to a endoscope, an engaging part delivered from a delivery port advances while being guided to an opening of a housing part by an engagement guide path. Then, as the engaging part comes into contact with a deformation generating part, the engaging part is moved in a direction from a bottom surface of the housing part toward the opening, and thereby, the wire is elastically deformed. Then, in a case where the engaging part that advances within the engagement guide path has passed by the deformation generating part, the engaging part is housed in the housing part from the opening by a restoring force of the wire.

Abstract: Provided are an endoscope and a hardness adjustment device configured so that an arrangement space of built-in components in an operation portion can be ensured and that burden on a coil spring and a wire can be reduced. In an operation portion, a retained portion of a coil spring unit is retained at a first radial position by a coil spring holder as a first retainer, and a base end portion of a wire unit is retained at a second radial position by a wire holder as a second retainer. A base end portion of the coil spring unit is retained at a third radial position by a coil spring contact portion as a third retainer.

Abstract: According to a endoscope, an engaging part delivered from a delivery port advances while being guided to an opening of a housing part by an engagement guide path. Then, as the engaging part comes into contact with a deformation generating part, the engaging part is moved in a direction from a bottom surface of the housing part toward the opening, and thereby, the wire is elastically deformed. Then, in a case where the engaging part that advances within the engagement guide path has passed by the deformation generating part, the engaging part is housed in the housing part from the opening by a restoring force of the wire.

Abstract: Provided are an endoscope and a hardness adjustment device configured so that an arrangement space of built-in components in an operation portion can be ensured and that burden on a coil spring and a wire can be reduced. In an operation portion, a retained portion of a coil spring unit is retained at a first radial position by a coil spring holder as a first retainer, and a base end portion of a wire unit is retained at a second radial position by a wire holder as a second retainer. A base end portion of the coil spring unit is retained at a third radial position by a coil spring contact portion as a third retainer.

Abstract: A plastic deformation method of a tightly wound coil spring includes a regulating process and a plastic deformation process. In the regulating process, a tightly wound coil spring is inserted into a pipe, and deformation of the tightly wound coil spring in a tightly wound coil spring radial direction is regulated by the pipe. In the plastic deformation process, a compression force is applied to the tightly wound coil spring inserted into the pipe from one end or both ends in a tightly wound coil spring axial direction. Then, a rod is inserted into the pipe from a left-end opening portion of the pipe, and the compression force is applied to the tightly wound coil spring by a pressing force of the rod.